Chemical substance total management system, storage medium storing chemical substance management program and chemical substance total management method

ABSTRACT

A chemical substance total management system aids for reduction of release and transferring amount of managing substances in business entities. The system retrieves releasing and transferring amount record relating to predetermined managing substance on the basis of total tabulation link information with correlation between the tabulation result record managing releasing and transferring amount of managing substance per releasing and transferring destination and releasing and transferring amount record to be a source generating tabulation result record.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a chemical substance totalmanagement system managing chemical substances contained in materialshandled by business entities, a storage medium storing a chemicalsubstance management program and a chemical substance total managementprogram.

[0002] In various materials currently commercialized, several hundredskinds of chemical substances having significant impact to environmentare contained. When business entities handle the materials in theprocesses of manufacturing, transportation, storage and so forth, it hasbeen required to know how much amount of the chemical substances ismoved, how much amount of chemical substance is released to theatmosphere, soil and/or water, how much amount of chemical substance hasbeen provided to the market in a form contained in the products.Therefore, the business entities have to manage the chemical substancesto be handled by themselves. Hereinafter, the chemical substances to behandled by the business entities will be referred to as “managingsubstance”.

[0003] Therefore, legal system has been started to require the businessentities to report quantative data of releasing and transferring themanaging substances in factories, business offices or in businessenterprise to the country and/or the autonomous body to estimateenvironmental impact of the overall country.

[0004] The conventional data collecting system has a function forinputting basic data of the managing substances per division and/orprocess and aggregately tabulating per unit of superior organization(business office, company). The reason is that as effective document,only this result is required.

[0005] Such prior art has been discussed in Special Edition,“Environmental Resource” of December, 1999.

[0006] However, since the prior art set forth above is merely designedfor preparing the effective document under the legal system, noconsideration has been given for particular method for reducingproblematic managing substance. Namely, by merely displaying or printingthe final release or transferring destination (atmosphere, water, soilor the like) of the managing substance or release and transferringamount, it cannot be known to the business entity, in which material,the managing substance is contained or in which process, the managingsubstance is handled. Therefore, the business entity may not take anyparticular measure for reducing release amount or transferring amount(hereinafter releasing and transferring amount) of the managingsubstance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide achemical substance total management system aiding for reduction ofrelease and transferring amount of managing substances in businessentities.

[0008] The present invention retrieves releasing and transferring amountrecord relating to predetermined managing substance on the basis oftotal tabulation link information with correlation between thetabulation result record managing releasing and transferring amount ofmanaging substance per releasing and transferring destination andreleasing and transferring amount record to be a source generatingtabulation result record.

[0009] On the other hand, the present invention retrieves substancetransferring amount record relating to a predetermined process in thebasis of substance handling amount record and material handling amountrecord as a source of generation of the handling amount record, andretrieving material handling amount record relating to retrievedsubstance transferring amount record on the basis of process tabulationlink information between the releasing and transferring amount recordand substance handling amount record as a source of generation of thereleasing and transferring amount record.

[0010] According to the first aspect of the present invention, achemical substance total management system for managing chemicalsubstances contained in the materials handled by business entity,comprises:

[0011] a result database storing releasing and transferring amountrecord managing processes, in which materials are handled, managingsubstances contained in the materials and releasing and transferringamount per releasing and transferring destination of the managingsubstances in the process, with correspondence;

[0012] a retrieval processing portion retrieving the process, in whichmaterials containing a predetermined managing substance designated onthe basis of the releasing and transferring amount record, is handled,and releasing and transferring amount of the designated predeterminedmanaging substance per releasing and transferring destination in theprocess; and

[0013] a display processing portion displaying the process, in which thematerials containing the designated predetermined managing substance arehandled and releasing and transferring amount of the designatedpredetermined managing substance per the releasing and transferringdestination in the process.

[0014] According to the second aspect of the present invention, achemical substance total management system for managing chemicalsubstances contained in the materials handled by business entity,comprises:

[0015] a result database storing releasing and transferring amountrecord managing processes, in which materials are handled, managingsubstances contained in the materials and releasing and transferringamount per releasing and transferring destination of the managingsubstances in the process, with correspondence;

[0016] a releasing coefficient database storing releasing andtransferring coefficient of the managing substance in the process perreleasing and transferring designation;

[0017] an input processing portion receiving a designation of apredetermined process;

[0018] a retrieval processing portion retrieving materials to be handledin designated predetermined process and releasing and transferringamount of the managing substance in the material per releasing andtransferring destination on the basis of the material handling amountrecord and the substance handling amount record; and

[0019] a display process portion displaying materials to be handled bythe designated predetermined process and releasing and transferringamount of the managing substance in the material per releasing andtransferring destination.

[0020] According to the third aspect of the present invention, achemical substance total management system managing chemical substancecontained in a material handled by a business entity comprises:

[0021] a total tabulation processing portion tabulating releasing andtransferring record managing process, in which materials are handled,managing substances contained in the material, releasing andtransferring amount of the managing substance in the process perreleasing and transferring destination, with correspondence, into atleast one of organization, in which the material is handled or a period,in which a period of the material is handled, to generate a tabulationresult record managing releasing and transferring amount of the managingsubstance per releasing and transferring destination, and generatingtotal tabulation link information correlating the releasing andtransferring amount record and the tabulation result record;

[0022] an input processing portion receiving a designation of themanaging substance in the tabulation result record;

[0023] a retrieving process portion retrieving releasing andtransferring amount record relating to the substance designated on thebasis of the total tabulation link information; and

[0024] a display processing portion displaying releasing andtransferring amount of the managing substance in the process perreleasing and transferring destination on the basis of retrievedreleasing and transferring amount record.

[0025] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, achemical substance total management system managing chemical substancecontained in a material handled by a business entity comprises:

[0026] a process tabulation processing portion generating substancehandling amount record managing handling amount of the managingsubstance in a process on the basis of a material handling amount recordmanaging process, in which materials are handled, and handling amount ofthe material in the process with correspondence, managing substancecontained in the material and content of the managing substance in thematerial, and generating a process tabulation link informationcorrelating the material handling amount record and the substancehandling amount record;

[0027] an evaluation tabulation processing portion generating releasingand transferring amount record managing releasing and transferringamount of the managing substance in the process per releasing andtransferring destination on the basis of the substance handling amountrecord and releasing and transferring coefficient of the managingsubstance in the process per releasing and transferring destination, andgenerating evaluation tabulation link information correlating thesubstance handling amount record and the releasing and transferringamount record;

[0028] a retrieval processing portion retrieving substance transferringamount record on the basis of the evaluation tabulation link informationand retrieving material handling amount record relating to the substancetransferring amount record on the basis of the process tabulation linkinformation; and

[0029] a display processing portion displaying releasing andtransferring amount of the managing substance in the material perreleasing and transferring destination on the basis of retrievedsubstance transferring amount record and retrieved material handlingamount record.

[0030] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, achemical substance total management system managing chemical substancecontained in material handled by business entity, comprises:

[0031] a material handling amount record managing the process handlingthe material and handling amount of the material in the process withcorrespondence;

[0032] a substance handling amount record managing the process, managingsubstance contained in the material and handling amount of the managingsubstance in the process with correspondence;

[0033] a releasing and transferring amount record managing the process,the managing substance and releasing and transferring amount of managingsubstance in the process per releasing and transferring destination withcorrespondence;

[0034] a tabulation result record managing at least one of organizationhandling the material or period of handling the material, the managingsubstance, and the releasing and transferring amount withcorrespondence;

[0035] an evaluation tabulation link information correlating thesubstance handling amount record and the releasing and transferringamount record; and

[0036] a total tabulation link information correlating the releasing andtransferring amount record and the tabulation result record.

[0037] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, arecording medium storing a chemical substance total management programto be executed in a chemical substance total management system managingchemical substance contained in material handled by business entity,comprises:

[0038] reception process of receiving a designation of a predeterminedmanaging substance;

[0039] retrieval process of retrieving releasing and transferring amountrecord corresponding to releasing and transferring amount per releasingand transferring destination of the management substance in the processdesignated from the releasing and transferring amount record managingthe process handling material containing managing substance andreleasing and transferring amount of the managing substance in theprocess per releasing and transferring destination; and

[0040] displaying process displaying the process handling the materialcontaining the designated predetermined managing substance and releasingand transferring amount of the managing substance in the process perreleasing and transferring destination with correspondence on the basisof the retrieved releasing and transferring amount record.

[0041] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, arecording medium storing a chemical substance total management programto be executed in a chemical substance total management system managingchemical substance contained in material handled by business entity,comprises:

[0042] reception process of receiving a designation of a predeterminedmanaging substance;

[0043] retrieval process retrieving material handling amount record andsubstance handling amount record corresponding to a predeterminedprocess designated from material handling amount recording managingprocess handling the material and handling amount of the material in theprocess with correspondence and substance handling amount recordmanaging the process, managing substance contained in the material inthe process with correspondence;

[0044] displaying process displaying material handled in thepredetermined process designated and releasing and transferring amountof the managing substance in process per releasing and transferringdestination on the basis of retrieved material handling amount recordand retrieved substance handling amount record.

[0045] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, achemical substance total management method managing chemical substancecontained material handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown ofreleasing and transferring amount of managing substance per releasingand transferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining the managing substance when name of the managing substance isdesignated on a display screen displayed name of managing substance andreleasing and transferring amount of the managing substance withcorrespondence.

[0046] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, achemical substance total management method managing chemical substancecontained material handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown ofreleasing and transferring amount of managing substance per releasingand transferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining the managing substance when name of the process is designatedon a display screen displayed the name of process handling the materialcontaining managing substance and releasing and transferring amount ofthe managing substance in the process per releasing and transferringdestination with correspondence.

[0047] According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, achemical substance total management method managing chemical substancecontained material handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown ofreleasing and transferring amount of managing substance per releasingand transferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining the managing substance when name of the managing substance isdesignated on a display screen displaying the name of managing substanceand releasing and transferring amount of managing substance perreleasing and transferring destination with correspondence.

[0048] According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, achemical substance total management method managing chemical substancecontained material handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown ofreleasing and transferring amount of managing substance per releasingand transferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining the managing substance when name of process is designated ona display screen displaying name of process handling material containingthe managing substance and releasing and transferring amount of managingsubstance in process per releasing and transferring destination withcorrespondence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] The present invention will be understood more fully from thedetailed description given hereinafter and from the accompanyingdrawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which,however, should not be taken to be limitative to the invention, but arefor explanation and understanding only.

[0050] In the drawings:

[0051]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of one embodimentof a chemical substance total management system according to the presentinvention;

[0052]FIG. 2 is a conceptual illustration showing an example of a datastructure of a database in one embodiment of the chemical substancetotal management system according to the present invention;

[0053]FIG. 3 is a conceptual illustration showing an example of handlingof managing substances in one embodiment of the chemical substance totalmanagement system according to the present invention;

[0054]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a data input process in oneembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention;

[0055]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process tabulation process in oneembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention;

[0056]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an evaluation tabulation process inone embodiment of the chemical substance total management systemaccording to the present invention;

[0057]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a total tabulation process in oneembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention;

[0058]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a retrieval process in oneembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention;

[0059]FIG. 9 is a conceptual illustration for supplementary explanationof the tabulation process and retrieval process in one embodiment of thechemical substance total management system according to the presentinvention;

[0060]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing updating process in one embodimentof the chemical substance total management system according to thepresent invention;

[0061]FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a systemconstruction of one embodiment of the chemical substance totalmanagement system according to the present invention; and

[0062]FIG. 12 is an illustration showing a display input screen image ofone embodiment of the chemical substance total management systemaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0063] The present invention will be discussed hereinafter in detail interms of the preferred embodiment of a chemical substance totalmanagement system, a storage medium storing a chemical substance totalmanagement program and a chemical substance total management methodaccording to the present invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the following description, numerous specific details areset forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the presentinvention. It will be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without these specific details.In other instance, well-known structure are not shown in detail in orderto avoid unnecessary obscurity of the present invention.

[0064] Incorporate By Reference

[0065] Whole disclosure of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.(not yet known), for CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE TOTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ANDCHEMICAL SUBSTANCE TOTAL MANAGEMENT METHOD” filed with claimingconvention priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-81722,filed on Ma. 17, 2000, is herein incorporated by reference.

[0066]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of the preferredembodiment of a chemical substance total management system according tothe present invention.

[0067] The chemical substance total management system includes aresearch processing portion 101, a MSDS database 102, a data inputprocessing portion 103, a material composition database 104, a managingsubstance database 105, a release coefficient database 106, a processtabulation processing portion 107, a evaluation tabulation processingportion 108, a total tabulation processing portion 109, a resultdatabase 110, a result display processing portion 111, a retrievalprocessing portion 112 and a risk communication aid processing portion113.

[0068] The MSDS database 102 stores items of notandum in handling ofmaterials, product safety data sheet (MSDS) indicative of harmfuleffect, correspondence to laws and rules in a form of database permaterial. The material herewith referred to includes a raw material tocharge stock of completed product (e.g. rough substance, such as ore,crude oil and so forth, primary processed product, such as steel plateor the like, half-finished product, such as substrate or the like), oneused for production of complete product (e.g. coating agent, cleaningagent, paint, cooling agent). The complete product herewith referred tois products which are shipped by the business entity as product, such asautomobile, camera, personal computer, film, television set, CPU, platemember, cable, clothes, foods, building, electric power, water and soforth.

[0069] The material composition database 104 stores material compositioninformation in a form of database.

[0070] One material is normally consisted of a plurality of substances,namely molecules. For the substances (molecules), CAS (Chemical AbstractServices) number and other identifier is present. Therefore, a record ofmaterial composition database 104 is preferably consisted of a materialname, an identifier of managing substance contained in the material (forexample, name of managing substance, CAS number of the managingsubstance or the like), lower limit and upper limit of content ofmanaging substance (preferably, mass rate) in a form of field. Managingsubstances herewith referred to are substances requiring management assubstances significantly affecting for environment or its peripheralsubstance as chemical substance (first-claps designated chemicalsubstance) taken as object in PRTR law (law relating to keep trackrelease amount of particular chemical substance to environment andpromoting improvement of management: Pollutant Release and TransferRegister law”) or chemical substances to be object in chemical substancemanagement guideline or environment protection guideline or the like ofstate or GDM (Government-Designated Municipalities). For example, themanaging substances herewith referred to may be toluene, xylen acid,methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), isopropanol, chromate salt, epoxy resins,methylene chloride, benzene, dimethyl zinc, acrylamide, mercury, vinylchloride or the like.

[0071] The managing substance database 105 is a database listing up themanaging substances and stores record group taking arbitrary genre(poisonous substance, deleterious substance, managing object, law andregulation defined substance, self-management substance and so forth)and identifier of corresponding managing substance as field. Themanaging substance database 105 also stores record group taking theidentifier of the managing substance and physical property as field. Asthe physical property, a coefficient in the case of converting themolecular weight into a pure metal mass weight, vapor pressure, densityand so forth are included.

[0072] A release coefficient database 106 stores records taking managingsubstances per releasing destination (atmosphere, water, soil,consumption, charged disposal, recycling, containment in product) andreleasing and transferring amount of the managing substance (preferablyratio by weight). Process herewith referred to is production process ofproduct by the business entity, inspection process of the product,development process of the product, and includes molding process,processing process, heat treatment process, painting process, washingprocess, etching process, surface treatment process, assembling processand so forth. For example, it is data representing release of 80% oftoluene as component of a paint A to atmosphere relation to charging ofthe pain A in certain painting process in the production line in certaindivision.

[0073] The research processing portion 101 has a function for retrievalof field mutually common from record group stored in the MSDS database102, the material composition database 104, the managing substancedatabase 105, the discharge coefficient database 106 with establishingassociation, retrieval with identifier, such as name of managingsubstance, CAS number or the like, retrieval of record in partialmatching with respect to texts in the field for outputting as screenimage or file.

[0074] The result database 110 is a database storing record used by datainput processing portion 103, process tabulation processing portion 107,evaluation tabulation processing portion 108, total tabulationprocessing portion 109, resultant record (material handling amountrecord, substance handling amount record, release and transfer amountrecord, tabulation result record and so forth) and link informationbetween the records (process tabulation link information,. evaluationtabulation link information, total tabulation link information or soforth).

[0075] The result display processing portion 111 retrieves the contentof the result database 110, reads out and displays various tabulationresults. For example, the name of managing substance. the CAS number ofthe managing substance, releasing and transferring destination of themanaging substance per releasing and transferring destination, totalreleasing and transferring amount summed the releasing and transferringamount per releasing and transferring destination are displayed withcorrespondence, or the name of managing substance. the CAS number of themanaging substance, division handled the managing substance, theprocess, in which the material containing the managing substance iscontained and annual handling amount of the managing substance in theprocess are displayed with correspondence.

[0076] The risk communication aid processing portion 113 serves not onlyfor establishing mutual relationship is in process of data stored in theMSDS database 102, the material composition database 104, the managingsubstance database 105 and discharge coefficient database 106 but alsofor tracing the link information in the meaning with respect to thefield of each record. In risk communication, it is important to resolvethe fear of residents relating to release of the managing substance. Itis necessary to inspect prehistory of releasing of the substance withidentifying the process or material and to establish communication withmake reference to the characteristics of the process (including heightof exhaust flue and so forth), safety data of the material. Therefore,concerning the material, the material composition data of the materialis retrieved from the material composition database 104 to output anddisplay. On the other hand, concerning the managing substance, themanaging substance data is retrieved from the managing substancedatabase 105 to output and display. On the other hand, a releasecoefficient data of the managing substance related to the process isretrieved from the release coefficient database 106 to output anddisplay. With this function, concerning inquiry relating to thereleasing and transferring data from the near neighbors and/orinterested parties, communication can be established with confidence onthe basis of reasonable data.

[0077] The storage medium (e.g. floppy disk, hard disk, memory card,memory stick, MO, PD, CD-ROM. CD-R/RW, DVD-ROM. DVD-RAM) performsresearching process performed by research processing portion 101, datainput process to be performed by the data input processing portion 103,a process tabulation process performed by the process tabulationprocessing portion 107, evaluation tabulation process to be performed bythe evaluation tabulation processing portion 108, total tabulationprocess to be performed by total tabulation processing portion 109, theresult display process to be performed by the zlll, the retrievalprocess to be performed by retrieval processing portion 112, riskcommunication aiding process to be performed by risk communication aidprocessing portion 113, input process to be performed by an inputprocessing portion 114 and display switching process to be performed bya display switching portion 115, and displaying process to performdisplay processing portion 116, to execute the chemical substance totalmanagement system.

[0078] The storage medium (e.g. floppy disk, hard disk, memory card,memory stick, MO, PD, CD-ROM. CD-R/RW, DVD-ROM. DVD-RAM) storing theshown embodiment of the chemical substance total management programaccording to the present invention includes MSDS data stored in the MSDSdatabase 102, material composition data stored in the materialcomposition database 104, managing substance data storing the managingsubstance database 105, release coefficient data stored in the dischargecoefficient database 106 and result data (e.g. material handling amountrecord, the substance handling record, the releasing and transferringamount record, tabulation result record, process tabulation linkinformation, the evaluation tabulation link information, totaltabulation link information.

[0079]FIG. 2 shows an example of data structure of the database in theshown embodiment of the present invention. In the material compositiondatabase 104, data establishing correspondence between the CAS number ofthe managing substance contained in the material and upper limit andlower limit of the content of the managing substance (preferably, Wt %)is stored per material with taking the material as key index. Asmaterial name, tradename or product number upon purchased by thebusiness entity may be used. However, any identification uniquelydetermined code system may be used.

[0080] The managing substance database 105 stores the managing substancedata, such as data of correspondence between the managing substance andthe corporate body by which the managing substance is designated andphysical property of the managing substance with taking the CAS numberof the managing substance as key index. The physical property herewithreferred to is property of the managing substance, such as molecularweight, melting point, boiling point, vapor pressure, water solubility,specific weight and so forth.

[0081] The release coefficient database 106 stores the release datawhich is data, in which the managing substance handled in the process,releasing and transferring destination of the managing substance and therelease coefficient of the managing substance are corresponded withtaking the process of the business entity as key index. The releasecoefficient of the managing substance is releasing and transferringratio (preferably, weight ratio) per releasing and transferringdestination of the managing substance.

[0082] In the MSDS database 102, data including chemical name of themanaging substance, English name, CAS number, description, raw material,price, preparation method, application, packaging type, notandum inhandling the managing substance, toxic effect, applicable law andregulation and so forth is stored with taking the MSDS data, namelymanaging substance or material as key index.

[0083]FIG. 3 shows an example of handling of the managing substance inthe shown embodiment of the present invention. Discussion will be givenin order of numbers given in FIG. 3.

[0084] The shown example is started in purchasing the paint A asmaterial (procedure {circle over (1)}). A purchase amount of the paint Ais 100 Mm³/month, a storage amount in a tank is typically constant.Therefore, a handling amount in the process is premised as 100 m³/month,similarly. AS density of the paint A is 1200 kg/m³, handling amountthereof is 120000 kg/month. All amount of the paint A is put into apainting process (procedure {circle over (2)}). Process up to here isimplemented by the data input processing portion 103.

[0085] Next, it can be read out the material composition database 104that the paint A contains 30% of toluene and 1% of cadmium. Therefore,handling amount of the managing substance in the paining process isderived as 36000 kg/month of toluene and 1200 kg/month ofcadmium. Thiscalculation is performed by the process tabulation processing portion107.

[0086] Next, in the paining process, painting for the shipping productis performed for applying the paint by spray is performed. During thisprocess, a part of the paint is dried and released to the atmosphere(procedure {circle over (3)}). Releasing rate to the atmosphere of 94%of toluene and 0% of cadmium can be read from the discharge coefficientdatabase 106. Therefore, it can be evaluated that 33840 kg of toluene isreleased to the atmosphere every month. Similarly, as industrial waste(procedure {circle over (4)}), 1800 kg of toluene and 120 kg of cadmiumare disposed per month. It is also evaluated that 360 kg of toluene and1080 kg of cadmium are contained in the shipping product. Theseevaluation is implemented by the evaluation tabulation processingportion 108.

[0087]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing data input process in the shownembodiment of the present invention.

[0088] In the data input processing portion 103, data input process isperformed. The data input process includes a reading process 2 a, a dateidentification process 2 b, a mass weight identification process 2 c, aprocess identification process 2 d and a storing process 2 e.

[0089] In the data input process, charging of the material andpurchasing of the material are read from the material management record,such as material purchasing document, stock control document and soforth. Here, as one example, as the material management record, chargerecord of the material to the process is read out (read process 2 a).From the record, date is identified (date identifying process 2 b).Since the purchase record inherently includes data field representativeof date data with dominical year or Japanese year, the date data isconverted into date data with dominical year. Next, mass weight of thematerial is identified (mass weight identification process 2 c).Thereafter, using an orderer name or the like, process in which thematerial is handled, is identified (process identification process 2 d).These series of result data is stored in the result data base 110 asprocess handling amount record (storing process 2 e). On the other hand,data input link information as link information correlating the materialhandling amount record as result record ands the material managementrecord as original record for obtaining the result record is also storedin the result database 110 (storing process 2 e).

[0090] The link information is information for correlation of the datarecord and the result record in the case where the data record (originaldata) preliminarily present in the processing portion (data inputprocessing portion 103, process tabulation processing portion 107,evaluation tabulation processing portion 108, total tabulationprocessing portion 109) is read out, processed by information process,arithmetic process or tabulation process to generate new data record(result record). In case of one-to-one relationship, correlation can berealized by adding point to one of two records. If both of records areplural and N-to-N relationship is established, pointers to all of theresult records are added to the original records, and pointers to alloriginal records are added to the result records. In the alternative,relationship between the original records and the result records may beestablished in a form of table.

[0091]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process tabulation process in theshown embodiment.

[0092] In the process tabulation process portion 107, process tabulationprocess is performed. The process tabulation process includes a read outprocess 5 a, a conversion process 5 b and a storing process 5 c.

[0093] At first, mass weight charged to the process is read out from theprocess tabulation process handling amount record stored in the resultdatabase 110 (read out process 5 a). Next, from the material compositiondata stored in the material composition database 104, the managingsubstance contained in the material is retrieved. Then, conversion isperformed to convert into the handling amount per managing substance(conversion process 5 b). By managing the handling amount of thematerial in mass weight (kg) and managing the content of the managingsubstance contained in the material in percent by mass, the handlingamount of the managing substance can be obtained in mass weight (kg) bymultiplying the mass weight (kg) of the handling amount of the materialby the content of the managing substance contained in the material.Finally, the process tabulation link information as the link informationbetween the substance handling amount record as the result record andthe process handling record and the material composition record asoriginal record, is also stored in the result database 110 (storingprocess 5 c).

[0094]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the evaluation tabulation process in theshown embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] In the evaluation tabulation processing portion 108, evaluationtabulation process is performed. The evaluation tabulation processincludes a reading process 6 a, 6 b and 6 c, a calculation process 6 dand a storing process 6 e.

[0096] The mass weight per managing substance charged to the processfrom the substance handling amount record stored in the result database110 (read out process 6 a). Next, the releasing and transferringcoefficient of the managing substance in the process is read out fromthe release coefficient data stored in the release coefficient database(read out process 6 b). The physical property of the managing substance(conversion coefficient and so forth) is read out from the managingsubstance data stored in the managing substance database 105 (read outprocess 6 c). Next, releasing amount of the managing data to atmosphere,water, or soul in the process , transfer amount to the product, andtransfer amount as waste are calculated (calculation process 6 d). Sincethe releasing and transferring coefficient is a value indicative of aratio between a handling amount of the managing substance in the processand releasing and transferring amount of the managing substance in theprocess, the releasing and transferring amount of the managing substanceper releasing and transferring destination can be calculated bymultiplying the handling amount of the managing substance by thereleasing and transferring coefficient. When the substance is metalsalt, pure metal element as released or transferred managing substanceis required. In this case, using the physical property data of themanaging substance, the mass weight of the pure metal element is derivedthrough conversion. Finally, the evaluation tabulation link informationas link information between the releasing and transferring amount recordas the result record and the substance handling amount record and therelease coefficient record as original records, is stored in the resultdatabase 110 (storing process 6 e).

[0097]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a total tabulation process in theshown embodiment of the present invention.

[0098] In the total tabulation processing portion 109, total tabulationprocess is performed. The total tabulation process includes a processidentification process 7 a, a read out process 7 b, a read out process 7c, a tabulation process 7 d and a storing process 7 e.

[0099] At first, a process group corresponding to designated tabulationrange (for example, workplace, division, section, line, process step,business office, business group, area and so forth), is identified(process identification process 7 a). Then, the releasing andtransferring amount record of the process group in the designated period(e.g. from Apr. 1, 1999 to May 31, 1999 (is read out from the resultdatabase (read out process 7 b). Furthermore, only releasing andtransferring amount record of the designated managing substance group(for example, designated substances of Environment Agency (Japan)) istaken out (read out process 7 c). These records are tabulated(tabulation process 7 d). It should be noted that the designation of thetabulation range, the designation of the period and the designation ofthe managing substance group are performed by the research processingportion 101. Finally, a total tabulation link information as the linkinformation between the tabulation result record as the result recordand the releasing and transferring amount record as original data, isstored in the result database (storing process 7 e).

[0100]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a retrieval process in the shownembodiment of the present invention.

[0101] In the retrieval processing portion 112, retrieval process isperformed. The retrieval process serves as reverse tracing function andincludes a first reception process 8 a performing a first stageretrieval process, a first retrieval process 8 b, a first displayprocess 8 c, a second reception process 8 d performing a second stageretrieval process, a second retrieval process 8 e, a second displayprocess 8 f, a third input process 8g performing a third stage retrievalprocess, a third retrieval process 8h and a third display process 8i. Itshould be noted that three retrieval processes, i.e. the first stageretrieval process, the second stage retrieval process and the thirdstage retrieval process are not essential and at least one of theretrieval process will be sufficient. It can be only first stageretrieval process, the second stage retrieval process or the third stageretrieval process. Also, only two retrieval processes would besufficient. It can be the first and second stage retrieval processes.

[0102] At first, selection of the tabulation result record on an outputdisplay image by the operator results in reception of designation of thefirst stage retrieval process (first reception process 8 a). From theresult database 110, the releasing and transferring amount record of theprocess to be a source of tabulation of the tabulation result record isretrieved by tracing the total tabulation link information (firstretrieval process 8 b). A plurality of retrieved releasing andtransferring amount record is output on the display (first displayprocess 8 c).

[0103] Next, selection of one of the records among a plurality ofreleasing and transferring amount record on the output display image bythe operator results in reception of designation of the second stageretrieval process (second reception process 8 d). Then, the substancehandling amount record as a source of generation of the releasing andtransferring amount record designated from the result database 110, isretrieved by tracing the evaluation tabulation link information (secondretrieval process 8 e). A plurality of retrieved substance handlingamount record is output for displaying (second displaying process 8 f).

[0104] Selection of one of the records among a plurality of substancehandling records on the output display image by the operator results inreception of designation of the third stage retrieval process (thirdinput process 8g). The material handing amount record as a source ofgeneration of the substance handling amount record designated from theresult database 110, by tracing the process tabulation link information(third retrieval process 8h). A plurality of selected material handlingamount record is output displayed and material order code, orderer codeand so forth are also retrieved for outputting on the display (thirddisplay process 8i). The display process of the supplementaryinformation is preferred in the shown embodiment of the system but canbe omitted.

[0105]FIG. 9 is a conceptual illustration for supplementary explanationof the tabulation process and the retrieval process in the shownembodiment of the present invention.

[0106] Five kinds of records, i.e. material management record, thematerial handling amount record, the substance handling amount record,the releasing and transferring amount record and the tabulation resultrecord, are processed or generated in the shown system. The flow shownby the arrow on left side is normal operation process, namely data inputprocess, the process tabulation process, the evaluation tabulationprocess and total tabulation process. On the other hand, the arrow inwavy line on the right side shows retrieval process using the linkinformation in each record as primary feature of the present invention,i.e. the first retrieval process, the second retrieval process, thethird retrieval process and the supplementary information retrievingprocess.

[0107] In FIG. 9, it appears that one record is generated from onerecord. However, it is possible that a plurality of records aregenerated from one record, and that one record is generated from aplurality of records. Therefore, the relationship is N-to-Nrelationship, basically. While it is not required in merely preparing alegal notification document, it is necessary to store a record to be anintermediate course shown in FIG. 9 for implementing the retrievalprocess. In this case, as new problem, needs to re-generate new recordswith new condition with erasing existing past record, is caused. Forexample, in the past, composition information of the material (managingsubstances contained in the material and contents of the managingsubstances) are indefinite, definite composition information is obtainedrecently. At this time, updating process to erase all of correspondingrecords by designating a range, such as particular period or particularmaterial and to perform re-calculation in new condition.

[0108]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing updating process in the shownembodiment of the present invention.

[0109] In an updating processing portion (not shown), updating processis performed. The updating process includes an input process 1 a, anerasure process 10 b and a re-calculation process 11 c. The updatingprocess is preferred to be included in the shown system but is notessential for the shown system.

[0110] At first, one of the covered period for erasure, covered processfor erasure, covered substance for erasure and combination thereof areinput to determine a range of records to be erased (input process 10 a).Then, material handling amount record, the substance handling amountrecord, the releasing and transferring amount record and the tabulationresult record are erased in the designated range (erasure process lob).

[0111] Finally, on the basis of new information, re-calculation isperformed relating to the r¥erased record (re-calculation process 11 c).

[0112]FIG. 11 shows an example of a system construction of the shownembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention.

[0113] A dedicated server computer 1101 is installed in a generalmanaging division to include all database and processing portions shownin FIG. 1. By connecting the dedicated server computer 1101 to acorporate network or intranet 1102, terminal computers 1103 at variousfactories, business offices and so forth in the corporation are enabledto use all functions. On the other hand, by placing the database shownin FIG. 1 in a general purpose data providing site 1105 outside of thecorporation and connecting to the site 1105 through an internet 1104, itbecomes possible to effectively use wide range data which cannot bestored in the dedicated server computer, or frequently updated data. Itis preferred to distribute the MSDS data, the material composition data,the managing substance data and the releasing coefficient data to thededicated server computer 1101 via the internet 1104 and the corporatenetwork or the intranet 1102 for updating.

[0114]FIG. 12 shows an example of an input screen image of the shownembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention.

[0115] At first, in the first input screen image 12 a, data of thetabulation result record relating to “Abc business office” designated asorganization of the tabulation range is output for displaying. While theshown result displays releasing and transferring amount relating tothree managing substances of “toluene”, “arsenic” and “phenol”. Whenretrieval process is commanded designating “toluene” among threemanaging substances, for example, the second input screen 12 b appearsas the result of retrieval and breakdown of value in the line of“toluene” is output to display in connection with the process, In thesecond input screen image, under the condition “releasing andtransferring of toluene in Abc business office”, the breakdown isdividedpereachprocess of “painting”, “washing” and “surface treatment”.A total of the values in respective releasing and transfer items matcheswith the value on the first input screen image. Namely, in the secondinput screen image 12 a, data extracted from the releasing andtransferring amount record relating to the designated tabulation resultrecord, is output for displaying.

[0116] Furthermore, in the second input screen image 12 b, if retrievalprocess is designated commanding “painting”, a third input screen image12 c appears. The breakdown of the value in the line of “paining” isoutput for displaying in relation to the material. In the third inputscreen image 12 c, under a condition “releasing and transferring oftoluene in painting process of Abc business office”. The breakdown ismade per material of “Alpha paint” and “Beta diluent”. Total of thevalues in respective items of releasing and transferring destinationmatches with the value on the second input screen image 12 b. Namely, inthe third input screen image 12 c, the extracted data from the substancehandling amount record and the material handling amount record relatingto the designated releasing and transferring amount record, is outputfor displaying. Both records are generated by continuously performingthe second retrieval process and the third retrieval process amongretrieval processes.

[0117] Furthermore, in the third input screen image 12 c, when theretrieval process is commanded by designating the “Alpha paint”, thefourth input screen image 12 d appears to display information relatingto charge record of “Alpha paint” on an output screen image. There isshown raw information, such as purchase document and stock managementdocument is displayed. Namely, in the fourth input screen image 12 d,data extracted from the material management record relating to thedesignated material handling amount record is output for displaying.

[0118] As a breakdown of the tabulation result, the releasing andtransferring amount per the releasing and transferring destination ofthe managing substance in the process and the releasing and transferringamount per the releasing and transferring destination of the managingsubstance in the material have particularly important meaning.Therefore, breakdown per process, namely, data extracted from thereleasing and transferring amount record may be preliminarily displayedto designate one line thereof to designate the retrieval process fordisplaying output of breakdown per material and namely displaying outputof data extracted from the substance handling amount record and thematerial handling amount record.

[0119] With the shown embodiment of the present invention constructed asset forth above the breakdown of the releasing and transferring amountper the releasing and transferring destination of the managingsubstance, namely, the process, in which the managing substance ishandled and the releasing and transferring amount per releasing andtransferring destination of the managing substance in the process may beidentified, or the material, in which the managing substance iscontained and the releasing and transferring amount per releasing andtransferring destination of the managing substance in the material maybe identified to aid for management and reduction of the managingsubstance by the business entity.

[0120] On the other hand, with the shown embodiment of the presentinvention, when the process, in which the managing substance is handledand the releasing and transferring amount per releasing and transferringdestination of the managing substance in the process may be identified,or , or the material, in which the managing substance is contained andthe releasing and transferring amount per releasing and transferringdestination of the managing substance in the material may be identified,for retrieving the original record from the result record on the basisof the link information, identification of the process, in which themanaging substance is handled and the releasing and transferring amountper releasing and transferring destination of the managing substance inthe process, or , or identification of the material, in which themanaging substance is contained and the releasing and transferringamount per releasing and transferring destination of the managingsubstance in the material, can be speeded up. Since retrieval has to beperformed against huge amount of records, if retrieval is performed bykeyword or the like, significant period is required, and difficulty iscaused in obtaining breakdown of the releasing and transferring amountper releasing and transferring designation of the managing substance.

[0121] Also, in the shown embodiment of the present invention, sincelink information is generated upon generation of the result record,preparation of identification of the process, in which the managingsubstance is handled and the releasing and transferring amount perreleasing and transferring destination of the managing substance in theprocess, or identification of the material, in which the managingsubstance is contained and the releasing and transferring amount perreleasing and transferring destination of the managing substance in thematerial, namely preparation of the link information is not necessary tobe performed by the business entity. Particularly, the present inventioncan dynamically adapted to variation of the material to be handled bythe business entity or variation of the managing substance required formanagement by the business entity by automatically preparing the linkinformation.

[0122] Although the present invention has been illustrated and describedwith respect to exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes,omission and additions may be made therein and thereto, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore,the present invention should not be understood as limited to thespecific embodiment set out above but to include all possibleembodiments which can be embodied within a scope encompassed andequivalent thereof with respect to the feature set out in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chemical substance total management system formanaging chemical substances contained in the materials handled bybusiness entity, comprising: a result database storing releasing andtransferring amount record managing processes, in which materials arehandled, managing substances contained in said materials and releasingand transferring amount per releasing and transferring destination ofsaid managing substances in said process, with correspondence; aretrieval processing portion retrieving the process, in which materialscontaining a predetermined managing substance designated on the basis ofsaid releasing and transferring amount record, is handled, and releasingand transferring amount of said designated predetermined managingsubstance per releasing and transferring destination in said process;and a display processing portion displaying the process, in which thematerials containing the designated predetermined managing substance arehandled and releasing and transferring amount of said designatedpredetermined managing substance per said releasing and transferringdestination in said process.
 2. A chemical substance total managementsystem for managing chemical substances contained in the materialshandled by business entity, comprising: a result database storingreleasing and transferring amount record managing processes, in whichmaterials are handled, managing substances contained in said materialsand releasing and transferring amount per releasing and transferringdestination of said managing substances in said process, withcorrespondence; a releasing coefficient database storing releasing andtransferring coefficient of said managing substance in said process perreleasing and transferring designation; an input processing portionreceiving a designation of a predetermined process; a retrievalprocessing portion retrieving materials to be handled in designatedpredetermined process and releasing and transferring amount of saidmanaging substance in said material per releasing and transferringdestination on the basis of said material handling amount record andsaid substance handling amount record; and a display process portiondisplaying materials to be handled by said designated predeterminedprocess and releasing and transferring amount of said managing substancein said material per releasing and transferring destination.
 3. Achemical substance total management system managing chemical substancecontained in a material handled by a business entity comprising: a totaltabulation processing portion tabulating releasing and transferringrecord managing process, in which materials are handled, managingsubstances contained in said material, releasing and transferring amountof said managing substance in said process per releasing andtransferring destination, with correspondence, into at least one oforganization, in which said material is handled or a period, in which aperiod of said material is handled, to generate a tabulation resultrecord managing releasing and transferring amount of said managingsubstance per releasing and transferring destination, and generatingtotal tabulation link information correlating said releasing andtransferring amount record and said tabulation result record; an inputprocessing portion receiving a designation of the managing substance insaid tabulation result record; a retrieving process portion retrievingreleasing and transferring amount record relating to the substancedesignated on the basis of said total tabulation link information; and adisplay processing portion displaying releasing and transferring amountof said managing substance in said process per releasing andtransferring destination on the basis of retrieved releasing andtransferring amount record.
 4. A chemical substance total managementsystem managing chemical substance contained in a material handled by abusiness entity comprising: a process tabulation processing portiongenerating substance handling amount record managing handling amount ofsaid managing substance in a process on the basis of a material handlingamount record managing process, in which materials are handled, andhandling amount of the material in said process with correspondence,managing substance contained in said material and content of saidmanaging substance in said material, and generating a process tabulationlink information correlating said material handling amount record andsaid substance handling amount record; an evaluation tabulationprocessing portion generating releasing and transferring amount recordmanaging releasing and transferring amount of the managing substance insaid process per releasing and transferring destination on the basis ofsaid substance handling amount record and releasing and transferringcoefficient of said managing substance in said process per releasing andtransferring destination , and generating evaluation tabulation linkinformation correlating said substance handling amount record and saidreleasing and transferring amount record; a retrieval processing portionretrieving substance transferring amount record on the basis of saidevaluation tabulation link information and retrieving material handlingamount record relating to said substance transferring amount record onthe basis of said process tabulation link information; and a displayprocessing portion displaying releasing and transferring amount of saidmanaging substance in said material per releasing and transferringdestination on the basis of retrieved substance transferring amountrecord and retrieved material handling amount record.
 5. A chemicalsubstance total management system managing chemical substance containedin material handled by business entity, comprising: a material handlingamount record managing said process handling the material and handlingamount of the material in said process with correspondence; a substancehandling amount record managing said process, managing substancecontained in said material and handling amount of said managingsubstance in said process with correspondence; a releasing andtransferring amount record managing said process, said managingsubstance and releasing and transferring amount of managing substance insaid process per releasing and transferring destination withcorrespondence; a tabulation result record managing at least one oforganization handling said material or period of handling said material,said managing substance, and said releasing and transferring amount withcorrespondence; an evaluation tabulation link information correlatingsaid substance handling amount record and said releasing andtransferring amount record; and a total tabulation link informationcorrelating said releasing and transferring amount record and saidtabulation result record.
 6. A recording medium storing a chemicalsubstance total management program to be executed in a chemicalsubstance total management system managing chemical substance containedin material handled by business entity, comprising: reception process ofreceiving a designation of a predetermined managing substance; retrievalprocess of retrieving releasing and transferring amount recordcorresponding to releasing and transferring amount per releasing andtransferring destination of said management substance in said processdesignated from said releasing and transferring amount record managingthe process handling material containing managing substance andreleasing and transferring amount of said managing substance in saidprocess per releasing and transferring destination; and displayingprocess displaying the process handling the material containing thedesignated predetermined managing substance and releasing andtransferring amount of said managing substance in said process perreleasing and transferring destination with correspondence on the basisof the retrieved releasing and transferring amount record.
 7. Arecording medium storing a chemical substance total management programto be executed in a chemical substance total management system managingchemical substance contained in material handled by business entity,comprising: reception process of receiving a designation of apredetermined managing substance; retrieval process retrieving materialhandling amount record and substance handling amount recordcorresponding to a predetermined process designated from materialhandling amount recording managing process handling the material andhandling amount of the material in said process with correspondence andsubstance handling amount record managing said process, managingsubstance contained in said material in said process withcorrespondence; displaying process displaying material handled in thepredetermined process designated and releasing and transferring amountof said managing substance in process per releasing and transferringdestination on the basis of retrieved material handling amount recordand retrieved substance handling amount record.
 8. A chemical substancetotal management method managing chemical substance contained materialhandled by business entity, displaying a breakdown of releasing andtransferring amount of managing substance per releasing and transferringdestination relating to a process handling material containing saidmanaging substance when name of said managing substance is designated ona display screen displayed name of managing substance and releasing andtransferring amount of said managing substance with correspondence.
 9. Achemical substance total management method managing chemical substancecontained material handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown ofreleasing and transferring amount of managing substance per releasingand transferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining said managing substance when name of said process isdesignated on a display screen displayed the name of process handlingthe material containing managing substance and releasing andtransferring amount of the managing substance in said process perreleasing and transferring destination with correspondence.
 10. Achemical substance total management method managing chemical substancecontained material handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown ofreleasing and transferring amount of managing substance per releasingand transferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining said managing substance when name of said managing substanceis designated on a display screen displaying the name of managingsubstance and releasing and transferring amount of managing substanceper releasing and transferring destination with correspondence.
 11. Achemical substance total management method managing chemical substancecontained material handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown ofreleasing and transferring amount of managing substance per releasingand transferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining said managing substance when name of process is designated ona display screen displaying name of process handling material containingthe managing substance and releasing and transferring amount of managingsubstance in process per releasing and transferring destination withcorrespondence.